Biogas and wood briquettes production in Geer / Belgium

The biogas plant at Geer is installed near to the company “Hesbaye Frost” (Ardo group). The plant uses the by-products from the production of frozen vegetables (solid organic vegetable waste) and also different agricultural biomasses (solid manure, liquid manure, energy crops) of 39 farmers from the region.

Another biomass which is used also is the sewage sludge produced in the waste water treatment facility of Hesbaye Frost.

The Combined Heat and Power group is producing thanks to the produced biogas renewable electricity and heat. The electricity is used in the industrial production process of Hesbaye Frost.

The excess heat is used to treat the liquid output of the biogas plant. After mechanical separation the solid part is used as an organic fertilizer at a dry matter content of 30% on the farmland. The liquid after separation is also treated by a thickening technology in order to produce a more or less clean process water which is spread out on the farmland thanks to an existing irrigation system.

The thermal energy is used in a drying process for woodchips. After the drying the woodchips are pressed in special sizes (8.000 tons per year wood briquettes) which fit for the use in private households.

This project is an excellent example for the interaction of multiple actors (companies and farms) after a long project development. The operation of the plant has started end of 2012.